Car signal device



`uly l0,V 1923.

1,461,352 E. H. HAND CAR SIGNAL DEVICE Filed March 25 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hamm ATTORNEYS.

CAR SIGNAL DEVICE July l0,

Filed March 25 l 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 viz/156.6: f

,UlflfllllllllHWS I lNvENToR;

Patentedl July 10, 1923.

U N l T E ERLE H. HAND, 0F STAPLETON, NEW YORK.

CAR SIGNAL DEVICE.

Applcatonled March 25, 1922. Serial No 546,663.

To @ZZ 'whom t may concern.' v

Beit known that I, ERLE H. HAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Staple` a station or intersecting street the naine of the station or street whichthe car is approaching will be visibly indicated.

With the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter more clearly appear,

my invention comprehends a novel car sig-l nal device.

It further comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of circuit opening and closingmeans and novel means for effecting the automa-tic operation thereof during the travel of a car.

It further comprehends novel contact mechanism, novel ,operating members and novel guiding means therefor.

It further comprehends novel means for causing the circuit opening and closing meniber to be retained in the position to which it has beenset.

Other novel features kof construction and advantage will hereinafter more fullyappear in the detailed description of the invention.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a typical embodiment thereof which is at present preferred by me, since this embodiment will be found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents, in side elevation, a car in conjunction with which signalling devices embodying iny invention are employed.

Figure 2 represents a top plan view of the construction seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents, in sectional elevation, a portion of the construction showing more clearly certain details thereof.

Figure 4 represents, in front elevation, a portion of a contactfmember.

Figure 5 represents, in front elevation, a

signal setting member. y

Figure 6 represents a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5. n

Figure 7 representsfa section showing more particularly the manner in which a signal operating member is guided by the car.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings.

l designates the car which carries a signal p 2, see Figure 1, which maybe of any desired' or conventional type wherein when the circuit is closed the indicator will be advanced so that the name, number or other matter indicative of a station will be visibly indicated at a desired place on the car. The signal is operated by means of any desired type of electric motor, or electric magnets which when energized will actuate theV signal A line 3leads from the` signal 2 to a battery 4 from which leads a line 5 which lis connectedv to a shaft 6v carried by a bracket 7 supported by the roof of the car. 8 designates a Vplurality of stationary contacts which are electrically connected by theline9 with the signal2. rlhe contact 8 is provided with the curved depression 10'in which is adapted to travel the Contact rollers '11 carried by the arms 12 two of these arms beingemployed'see Figures land 3. 'The arms 12 are carried bya hub 13 loosely mounted on the shaft 6 which latter is provided in its periphery with a plurality of recesses 14 into which are adapted to partially extend a ball 15 movable in an aperture 16 in one of the arms 12 and a spring 17 is provided in rear of the ball 15, the tendency of which is to cause the ball 15 to seat in an aperture 14 when it comes into alignment withrthe aperture 16. f The hub 13 has also extending from it the diametrically located arms 18, the ends of which are deflected in opposite directions and carry rollers 19. The stationary contacty niembe-r 8 curves downwardly at its ends 20 and 2l respectively, as will be understood from Figure 3. The car has rising from its roof standards 22 which carry channel bars 23 which serve as guides and which are curved outwardly at ltheir ends, as indicated at 24. 1

In proximity to each station a pair of operating membersi2 are ysecured which are provided with rods 26 by means of which c they may be supported at the proper height above the car roof and these rods are connected with a head 27 from which depends the arm 28 at the lower ends of which is rotatably mounted a roller 29.

30 designates a spring member secured to the head 27 by means of fastening devices 31 and its free ends are deflected downwardly and inwardly to form the spring arms 32 and 33, respectively. The head 2T of the operating member is provided at each end with an upper roller 3d, a lower roller 35 and an end roller 36 which engage the inner walls of the channel 23.

It will be seen that a number of circuit opening and closing members are employed mounted on the shaft 6, as seen in Figure 2, and it will be understood that the rollers 29 and the spring arms 32 and 33 are positioned on the heads 27 of the operating members 25 in such position that they will operate the signal for their respective stations so that the signal corresponding to each station will be set and unset as the car approaches such station.

The operation of my novel car signal device will now be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, and is as follows When the car seen in Figure 1 is approaching the station at 37, the roller 29 seen at the upper left-hand portion of Figure 1 engages the upper roller 11 carried by the arm 12, (which was in the position of the upper roller 19, before engagement), and causes a partial rotation of the hub 13,there by bringing the lower roller l1 on t-he opposite or lower arm 12 into contact with the resilient bowed spring member 8, said lower roller 11 riding over the end of said member into the concavity 10, as seen in Figures 1 and 3, thereby closing the circuit through the signal 2, so that the signal or indicator is operated to visibly indicate the station which the car is approaching.

Vhen entering the station 38 seen at the upper right hand portion of Figure 1, the same operation is repeated with the appr@ priate roller 19, carried by the arm 18, which is shorter than the arm 12, and shuts off the circuit.

It will be understood that the hub 13 and its adjuncts is capable of free rotation upon the shaft 6, but is temporarily resiliently locked in its proper positions by the devices seen in Figure 3. The inner walls of the side channel beams 23 effectively coact vith the upper and lower rollers 3d and 35 and the end rollers 3G, as will be understood from Figures 2 and 7, so that the tripping roller 29 will properly engage the appropriate rollers 11 and 19 at the proper intervals, as is evident.

t will be apparent that the resilient contact devices 8, the arms or brackets 7, carryipg the shaft 6 and its adjuncts, as well as thechannel beams 23, can be readily attached to the tops of cars of any standard or conventional type.

The operating members 25 may all be of one standard construction with the tripping roller properly positioned therein and may be installed in proximity to the stations at the proper points by any well known means, which it is unnecessary to describe in detail.

lt will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of a car signal device, which embodies the features of construction enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while l have in the present instance, shown and described preferred embodiments thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. ln a car signal device, a contactniember carried on aI car, a shaft mounted above said member, a. hub rotating on said shaft, and provided with radial arms arranged in pairs of different lengths, and rollers mounted in the ends of said arms to actuate said electric circuit.

2. In a car signal device, a contact member carried on a car, a shaft mounted above said member, a hub rotating on said shaft, and provided with radial arms arranged in pairs of dilferent lengths, and rollers mounted in the ends of said arms to actuate said Contact member for opening and closing an electric circuit, in combination with al springpressed locking device common to said shaft and hub.

3. ln a car signal device, a contact member carried on the top of a car, a. shaft mounted above said member, a hub rotating on said shaft and provided with radial arms arranged in pairs of different lengths, rollers mounted in the ends of said arms for opening and closing an electric circuit, means for resiliently locking said hub andarms in the proper position with respect to said contactmember, a pair of guiding devices mounted on the top of said car, and an operating member positioned along the trackway having its ends provided with rollers adapted to engage said guiding devices and an intermediately disposed roller adapted to engage and trip a roller carried by one of said arms.

le 1n a car signal device, a plurality of contact members arranged longitudinally and parallel with respect to each other and supported on a car top, a sha-ft mounted vContact member for opening and closing an lll) above said members, a plurality of hubs rotating on said shaft and provided With radial arms of different lengths arranged in pairs, and rollers mounted in the ends of proximity to a railroad station and adapted to coact with the rollers carried by said arms for rotating the latter and said hub.

6. In a car signal device, a pair of channel beams arranged in horizontal alignment on opposite sides of a car top,contact devices mounted upon the car top intermediately of said channel beams, a shaft above said contact devices, a plurality of hubs rotating on said shaft and provided with radial arms of dierent lengths arranged in pairs, rollers mountedin the ends of said arms for engaging said contact devices for opening and closing electric circuits, and means in pro-ximity to stations for effecting the actuation of said rollers and arms.

7. In a car signal device, a pair of channel beams arranged in horizontal alignment on opposite sides of a car top and having their outer ends Haring, contact devices mounted upon the car top intermediately of. said channel beams, a shaft above said contact devices, a plurality of hubs rotating on said shaft and provided With radial arms of different lengths arranged in pairs, rollers mounted inthe ends of said arms for engaging said contact devices for opening and closing electric circuits, and means in proximity to stations for effecting the actuation of said rollers and' arms, in combination with spring-pressed locking devices common to said shaft and hubs.

8. In a car signal device, a plurality of operating members each arranged in proximity-to a station and-.comprising a head having at its endsupper and lower and end rollers, a bottom roller located in proximity to said ends, and a movable vehicle having channel beams mounted thereon and provided With flaring ends, the recesses of said channel beams facing each other and adapted to receive said upper and lower and end rollers.

9. In a car signal device, a plurality of Contact members carried on the topof a car, a shaft mounted above said members, a plurality of hubs rotating on said shaft and provided With radial arms thereon, resilient means for lockingv said hubs in the desired position and rollers mounted on the ends of said arms to actuate said contact member for opening and closing electric circuits.

10. In a car signal device, a plurality of contact members carried on the top of a car,- a shaft mounted. above said members, a plurality of hubs-rotatingv on said shaft'and provided With radial arms arranged in pairs .I

thereon, resilient means for locking said hubs in the desired position and rollers mounted on the ends of said arms to actuate' said contact member for opening and closing electric circuits, in'combination with a signalling device electrically connected to said hubs'and contact members.

ll. In a car signal device, a contact member, a shaft'mounted .above said member, a hub rotatably mounted on said shaft. and provided With an arm, ya roller mounted on said arm to actuatesaid contact member, and a signalling device electrically connected to said hub and contact member.

l2. In a car signal device, a contact memnel beams arranged in horizontal alignment on opposite sides of a car top, a contact device mounted on the car top'intermediately of said channel beams, a shaft above said contact device, a hub rotatably mounted on said shaft, and provided With-a radial arm, a roller mounted on the end of said arm for engaging said contact device for opening and closing'an electric circuit, and means in proximity to a station for actuating said roller and arm. l

14. In a car signal device, a pair of channel beams arranged in horizonal alignment on opposite sides of a car to-p, a contact device mounted on the car topv intermediately of said channel beams, a shaft above said contact device, a hub rotatably mounted on said shaft, and provided with a radial arm, aroller mounted on the end of said arm for roller and arm, in combination With a spring pressed locking device common to said hub and shaft. Y

ERLE H.y HAND.

Witnesses :J

E. I-I. FAIRBANKS,

C. D. MOVAY.

ico 

